SPD Chief Announces Retirement

Springfield Police Chief Ken Scarlette has announced his plan to retire in June 2025 after 27 years of dedicated service to the Springfield Police Department. Throughout his career, Chief Scarlette has held various roles and remained committed to safeguarding the most vulnerable members of the community while striving to make Springfield a safer, stronger city.

In a statement, Chief Scarlette shared his decision, saying, “After much discussion, thought, and prayer with my family and friends, I have made the decision to announce my retirement. To the former and current police officers and staff of the Springfield Police Department, I want to thank you for your tireless dedication to the Springfield community. I am so blessed to have worked beside you over the past 27 years.”

As Police Chief for the past three years, Scarlette emphasized his focus on bridging gaps between law enforcement and the community, advancing technological innovations in policing, and maintaining a positive and thriving workplace for nearly 300 employees. Reflecting on his time in leadership, Scarlette acknowledged the challenges and changes the department has faced.

“For the past three years as Police Chief, it has been my unwavering goal to bridge gaps, build and develop trust amongst law enforcement and the community, lead the agency into the technological future, and maintain a thriving workplace for close to 300 employees. As with any critical leadership role, my tenure as Chief has been met with tumultuous incidents, tragedies within the community, various levels of uncertainty, and major change in the law enforcement industry at the local, state, and federal levels. Through it all, I have remained committed to serving with integrity and ensuring our department meets the highest standards of excellence,” said Chief Scarlette.

He also expressed gratitude to Springfield's leadership, past and present, for their support during his tenure. “I want to thank Mayor Misty Buscher, past and present elected officials and council members for your dedication to the City of Springfield and for the support you have shown me and my staff at the Springfield Police Department.”

As he prepares to step down, Chief Scarlette emphasized his commitment to ensuring a smooth leadership transition. “Serving this community has been the greatest honor of my life, and I am incredibly proud of the work we have accomplished together,” he said. “While stepping away is bittersweet, I do so with confidence, knowing the department is in great hands and will continue to serve with excellence.”

Mayor Misty Buscher also expressed her appreciation for Chief Scarlette’s leadership, stating, “Chief Scarlette has been an outstanding leader for the Springfield Police Department whose dedication to public safety and commitment to the people of Springfield has made a lasting impact. While I am happy for what lies ahead for him, I will miss working with him, and it is undoubtedly a bittersweet moment for Springfield.”

The City of Springfield and the Springfield Police Department will provide additional details on the leadership transition in the coming week.